Jewish Theological Seminary Students Used Tisha B’av for Biafrans

August 8, 1968

NEW YORK (Aug. 7)

Students and faculty members of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America (Conservative) devoted the Tisha B’av fast day, Aug. 4, to collecting funds for the relief of the victims of starvation and disease in Biafra, the breakaway eastern province of Nigeria. Members of the student-faculty committee for Biafran relief manned a booth to solicit contributions and collected signatures for a petition to President Johnson asking that the United States begin a massive airlift of emergency food and medical supplies to Biafra.

The students and teachers themselves contributed the money they did not spend for food and drink during the 24-hour fast period to Biafran relief. They cited a Biblical injunction, “Is this not the fast day I have chosen? Is not its purpose to give thy bread to the hungry?” (Isaiah 58:6-7) to explain their action.